Chittagong? Manchester at night is some-more threatening

Mike Atherton, Sports Writer of the Year & , : {}

Thursday, Mar 4

Most reporters have trafficked from Dhaka to Chittagong by sight - a seven-hour tour (2.90, first-class) by Bangladesh"s dumpy plains and paddy fields. On the way, apparently, The Sun causes a nearby demonstration at a hire after attempting to buy a bag of oranges. The oranges cost 50 taka (about 40p) but in a impulse of uncalled for generosity, The Sun offers 500 taka. This causes amazement and the orange seller looks deeply annoyed and refuses the money. Is he a unchanging reader, I wonder?

Kevin Pietersen is in a bad run and the day prior to the third one-day general he practises furiously. As the grave use ends, he stays in the nets batting opposite a posse of internal bowlers, nothing elderly some-more than twenty. A poetic ten mins follows: Pietersen engages with them fully, asking them what fields they would have and they set him a unbending aim to chase. He hits a little large sixes but usually fails in his charge that brings great happiness to the bowlers. At the end, he shakes their hands, signs autographs and poses for photos. Pietersen has been the theme of most unflattering portraits in England, but I have regularly found him to be unfailingly deferential and deferential and well-mannered.

Friday (third one-day International)

Related LinksPietersen fails in last warm-upTrott creates absolute box for Test placePietersen diseased mark apropos a be concerned

The host broadcaster is spread out to the extent given of cricket that is function parallel in India and so they are utilizing a little cameramen here who would not routinely cover the sport. During the initial one-day international, the executive called for a shot from one, usually to find that the cameraman was absent from his post. Another, camera 13, was sacked summarily after the second review for incompetence. Now we listen to that camera thirteen has been given a postpone and prior to the review he went to discuss to the executive about his troubles. "I am fifth era print wallah," he says, and thrusts a commercial operation label the directors way. The label reveals that he is a 33rd Emmy winner, but when quizzed about this conspicuous feat he admits that it was printed from the internet.

The inhabitant selector, Geoff Miller, watches the review from the radio gantry, where he engages in a little chaff with The Times and The Telegraph. After warn is voiced about the decent customary of the Peninsula road house here, a Monty Pythonesque blueprint ensues, where instead of northern businessmen competing with each alternative about their farfetched childhood deprivations (an outward loo! Luxury!), we remember about sub-continental horrors of the past. Miller trumps everybody with a story about the Sarjeez road house in Hyderabad where he once roomed with Ian Botham and John Lever. After unloading their bags, they beheld a gulley using the length of their room lonesome with handle meshing. As they were wondering what it could be for, a flushing receptive to advice was listened from on top of and seconds after the rubbish came rushing through. Modern touring: luxury, indeed.

Saturday

To the Firingee bazaar, riverside. A posse of travel urchins latches on to us, bags filled with street-side bits slung over their shoulders, their Fagin watchful lazily, no doubt, for their return. Deep inside the obstruction of old Chittagong, we are surrounded by friendly, smiling people who simulate the face of assuage rather than fundamentalist Islam. Id feel far some-more in jeopardy on foot around Leeds or Nottingham or Manchester at night.

Sunday (first day v Bangladesh A)

A prolonged discuss with Richard Halsall, Englands fielding coach, creates me realize (again) how far the diversion has changed on given I played. In a televised match, each aspect of a fielders opening is right afar logged. He has census data at the pull of a symbol for catching, purify stops, diving stops, assertive throws, run-saving opportunities taken and approach hits from throws. In the Twenty20 review opposite Pakistan recently, his census data discuss it him that England saved 6 runs in the margin while Pakistan gave afar 4 - a net benefit of ten runs. More than that, he can review Englands stats opposite fielders from each alternative country. Apparently, nobody else has this software. Ground-breaking stuff.

There is no disbelief that Englands fielding is some-more aggressive, some-more earthy than it was and that the players are fitter (in a earthy sense) and some-more jaunty than before. But it is not so most what the stats show that interests me but that the players know their each movement in the margin is being recorded. This is a in few instances great motivating tool. Sportsmen are of course rival animals, and nobody will wish to loiter at the back of in an area that previously, distinct batting and bowling, was tough to measure.

As we are talking, Graeme Swann is nearby, given to twelfth man duties, iPod docked and The Smiths" Heaven Knows Im Miserable Now playing. Can a strain have ever less reflected the man listening to it?

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